Originally Posted by
RTM Boy
If I've learned anything in life, it's not to jump to conclusions, least of all based on eyewitnesses. The CVR and FDR should answer most of the questions. Mine you I still can think of no good reason why with the technology now available internal and external video recording is not also captured on all new airframes.
Yes - often times individual eyewitness accounts will be unreliable - but when you have several different accounts that are somewhat consistent - you'd do well to pay attention. Frankly - the eyewitness accounts are at least based upon perception and visualization - much more information than those speculating here that automation doomed the craft.
Whatever the ultimate reason for the crash - I currently see no reason to ignore or otherwise discount corroborated eyewitness accounts. If they all turn out to be incorrect - so be it. Choosing to ignore them now is just confirmation bias.